batrachoseps major major

[Smokehound714]

A very large specimen, 10 inches long. I'm rehabbing the poor fellow, fairly emaciated.

I've seen larger individuals, far longer and thicker than any literature states.

So large, in fact, that they resemble ensatinas.

A head macro of a smaller individual I found while hunting for dysdera and diapaused phidippus

I always loved these guys, they're probably the cutest salamanders known to mankind. Lol

 

[jecraque]

Super cute! And 10 inches, I had no idea! Doesn't that challenge the Red Hills salamander in size? I'd love to go looking for these guys if I make it out west sometime. Then again, I am in plethodontid heaven so I can't complain.

Just curious, is the salamander pet trade as frowned-upon out there as it seems here? All my salamandering friends seem kind of horrified at the prospect of keeping things in captivity not for research purposes, but it may just be some of the sensitive species and the prevalence of things being poached from national/state parks nearby. There does seem to be a very different mentality from keeping inverts--more than once I've mentioned breeding, keeping, and occasionally selling native spiders to one of my salamander buds, only to be met with a disapproving look or an, "oh, you're one of THOSE." This and the relative difficulty of keeping salamanders vs. spiders are why I've never seriously considered grabbing any of the 6+ species that occur on my rental property.

 

[Smokehound714]

When people try to guilt trip me, I just remind them that they're in no position to complain, as they're doing nothing to help wild animals. Lool

Selling native herps is illegal by California state law.

I'm not a mass collector, so I don't feel the least bit guilty.

Slender salamanders live quite long lifespans, exceeding 15 years, and moving very little. This salamander will be returned to the backyard.

I occasionally also take in eggs, hatch them, then release the young after soaking the backyard for an hour before sunset.

 

[Spepper]

Salamanders and newts are awesome. I love it when I find them.

 

[jecraque]

When people try to guilt trip me, I just remind them that they're in no position to complain, as they're doing nothing to help wild animals. Lool

Selling native herps is illegal by California state law.

I'm not a mass collector, so I don't feel the least bit guilty.

Slender salamanders live quite long lifespans, exceeding 15 years, and moving very little. This salamander will be returned to the backyard.

I occasionally also take in eggs, hatch them, then release the young after soaking the backyard for an hour before sunset.

Ha, I don't think that retort will work so well on researchers. I didn't know that about the legality--I don't think it's illegal to sell salamanders here unless it's as fishing bait. I don't think you should feel at all guilty--you're rehabbing them and there's no harm done. I hope you didn't think I was implying anything, just curious about the attitudes out your way. I also had no idea they lived that long! I've heard 10 for most of my native spp.

That's a really neat idea with the eggs. That might be more up my alley.

 

[The Snark]

There was a study done of animals native to SoCal. It's name said it all: Adapt or Die. Something like 80% of the natural habitat in the entire southern half of the state is disturbed, damaged or destroyed. Thus the blanket laws protecting the local fauna. That was amazing to me considering the vast stretches of desert in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, yet human footprints, and their RVs, have taken a severe toll on the very fragile environment and dwellers therein.